The Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. David Fitzgerald and Elected Members of Kilkenny County Council hosted a reception for L'Arche Kilkenny on Thursday, 31st May, 2018, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, in recognition of the value of their voluntary service to the community and in particular for the provision of housing and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in County Kilkenny over the past 40 years.

L'Arche was originally founded in 1964 in France by Jean Vanier, Canadian philosopher, theologian and humanitarian and has grown into an international movement of 149 communities in 37 countries.

In Ireland, L'Arche started in 1978 in Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny. During the past 40 years L'Arche Kilkenny has grown so that today it includes four residential houses, a Café, four Independent Living Core Member chalets, a garden workshop and a craft workshop. L'Arche has also started communities in Cork, Dublin and Belfast. Altogether, L'Arche Ireland and Northern Ireland serves close to 100 people with intellectual disabilities and their families through residential and day services, as well as outreach projects.